A 20-minute uphill walk through the rice and mustard fields surrounding Sopsokha village leads to the famous Chimi Lhakhang monastery. Along the way, you can’t fail to notice the pink, red and blue ejaculating penises painted in formal Budd…

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On the road to Punakha from Thimpu lies the Dochu La Pass, at 3,100m (10,170ft). 108 memorial stupas adorn the pass, arranged in three concentric circles. The vast expanse of the snow-clad mountain peaks of the Himalayas lies to the east, a…

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The valley of Gangtey is a beautiful area in Bhutan, offering great views and photography opportunities. Fresh air, thick forests, lush fields, and traditional ornate buildings await travellers for a true cultural experience. The tradition…

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Shops, restaurants and offices in richly carved traditional buildings line the main street of Paro, a couple of hours’ drive from Thimpu, where two of eastern Bhutan’s main rivers meet. Approached by a spectacular flight path, which only a…

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Around 15.5 miles (25 km) east of Thimphu, Punakha and its gorgeous valley typically offers visitors their first real taste of rural Bhutan. Built in around 1638 and beautifully sited at the confluence of two rivers, its dzong ranks among t…

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Several other sights lie in and around town but further up the valley (towards Tibet) lies what is arguably Bhutan’s iconic picture-postcard monument – the Taktsang Monastery. Commonly known as the ‘Tiger’s Nest’, it is wedged into a lofty…

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Thimphu became the capital of Bhutan in 1961, since when it has swollen to a town of around 80,000 people. TransIndus tours typically pause a couple of nights here – long enough to take in its impressive dzongs (fortress-monasteries), the K…

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Perched on a hilltop with stunning views of the surrounding valley above the Drangme Chhu river, the beautiful town of Trashigang is situated in eastern Bhutan. It was once a bustling trade centre and, today, continues to serve as a popular…

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Situated in the heart of the country, a crossroads-like alignment of four valleys is collectively known as Bumthang. Until the 1970s, when a road was finally constructed through it, this region remained isolated and relatively undeveloped. …

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Though the Haa Valley is one of Bhutan’s lesser-visited destinations, this region just west of Paro is in fact home to some of the country’s greatest treasures and oldest holy sites. Haa Town is the main settlement here, recognisable for it…

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